Adjustable platform supporting bedrail bracket means



J. A. WOLFE arch 1, 1955 ADJUSTABLE PLATFORM SUPPORTING BEDRAIL BRACKET MEANS Filed May 24. 1950 .8 Y E o W W fl h 5 0., M w w 465 .9 444 d 3 4 y fld W is 0. f is: H W,

n ted "C6 $7 3 @1 a A ADJUSTABLE PLATFORM SUPPORTING BEDRAIL BRACKET Joseph A. Wolfe, Seattle; V l I Application May '24, 1950, serial No. 163,828 g I 1 Claim. (Cl. 311- 27 i This invention relatesito anadjustable bed table and bed table supporting means. y

An object of thisinventionds-to provide'a. bed table and bed table supportinglmeans of simple, eflicient. and

durable construction which canbe remo'vably attached to and supported from, aside rail o'fabed: H Another objectis to providere'adily operable bed table supporting means adapted tdsupport: 1a bed;. t'able 'in" such a manner that the table can"'quickly"and' easily be adjusted vertically and angularlyiand longitudinally of the bed and can be positioned overthe bed or an the side of the bed and can'quickly' andr'easilybefolded into and out of the way position without detaching the table from the bed ormay, if desired, be detached from thebed. j T M Another objectis to provide a bed table and bed table supporting means which is supported entirely by, the bed, which does not have any floor supports or pedestals to get in the way of personsr'work'i'ng around 'the bed, which is firmly supported and cannot be tipped over and which is readilyinterchangeable from one side to the other of a bed.

Another object is toprovidea bed table and'supporting means therefor which are readily'applicable to beds now in use or which may be;incorporatedinto the construction of new beds. t i T Other objects of the invention are to provide bed table and bed table supporting means which is applicable to substantially any hospital bed orany ordinary bed, which is not heavy to handle, which is easy to apply to a bed, which is easy to adjust and which is not expensive to manufacture. v

Other objects of the invention will be apparent from the following description taken in connect-ion with the accompanying drawings. v i

In the drawings :L

Figure 1 is a perspective viewof aljbed tableand bed table supporting means constructed in accordance with this invention showing the same applied to a hospital bed and showing by dot and dash lines a folded position into which the table may be adjusted to get it out of the way without detaching it from the bed.

Fig. 2 is a side view of this bed table and supporting means therefor and showing a bed rail and a track bar in cross section.

Fig. 3 is an end view of the bed table and supporting means therefor looking in the direction of broken line 33 of Fig. 2, parts of the track bar and side rail of the bed being broken away.

Fig. 4 is a sectional view on a larger scale than the preceding figures showing a bed rail and a track bar together with clamp means for securing the track bar to the bed rail.

Fig. 5 is a detached top plan view of a carriage memher and a post clamp carried thereby.

Fig. 6 is an end view of the carriage member and post clamp shown in Fig. 5 looking in the direction of broken line 66 of Fig. 5.

Fig. 7 is a sectional view similar to Fig. 4 but showing a track bar of diiferent cross sectional shape.

Fig. 8 is a detached sectional view showing a bed rail having a track bar of the cross sectional shape shown in Fig. 4 permanently attached thereto, as by welding.

Fig. 9 is a detached sectional view showing a bed rail having a track bar similar to the track bar shown in Fig. 7 welded thereto.

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Fig. 10 is a sectional view showing a modified form of side rail for a bed, said rail'having a longitudinal slot therein which cooperates in forming a track for a carriage by which a table maybe supported.

Like reference numerals designate like partsthrough out the several views. 7 f

In a general way the table supporting means comprises a track bar secured to a side rail 11 of a bed parallel to the side rail and along the outer side of said side rail, a carriage member supported for longitudinal movement by the track bar, and an upright table carrying post supported for rotative and vertical adjustment by said carriage.

The track bar shown in Figs. l to 6 inclusive cornprises a back portion 12 and two reversely bent opposed curved edge portions 13 which are spaced apart to provide therebetween a longitudinal slot 14 extending along the outer side of the'track bar from end to end thereof. A similar track bar is shown in Fig. 7 and comprises a back portion 15, two parallel opposed edge flange portions 16 and two overhanging-front flange portions 17. The front flange portions 17 are parallel with the back portion 15 and extend toward each other and have their opposed edges spaced apart to provide a longitudinally extending slot 18. The two track bars above described are similar except as to cross sectional shape and they function in a similar manner. The length of the track bars may be substantially equal to the length of the bed rail 11 orsaid track bars may be substantially shorter than the bed rail 11 if desired.

Preferably each track bar is provided with at least two clamping devices by which it may be removably attached to a bed rail. However in some instances the track bar may be welded or otherwise non-removably attached to the bed rail. Also the track bars may be riveted or bolted to the bed rail.

The clamping devices shown in Figs. 1 to 7 inclusive each comprise a member 20 of inverted L. shape welded or otherwise fixedly attached to a track bar and adapted to fit over a side rail 11 as best shown inFigs. ,4 and 7.

Each clamping device 20 has an inwardly bent inner member to the bed rail.

edge portion 21 which fits over and engages with the upper flange of the angle shaped bed rail 11. Each clamping member 20 further has a-threaded bolt 22 secured to its lower edge portion. Each bolt 22 has a clamp member 23 thereon for engagement with the lower edge portion of the bed rail "11. Also each bolt 22 has a thumb nut 24 to tighten and clampthe member 23- against the bed rail 10 andthus secure fihe track The use of track member attachingdevices of the type just described makes possible quick and easy in'-- stallation of the trackmembers on the bed rails and quick and easy removal of the track members from the bed rails.

The clamping-means shown*in-Fig. 7-is similar to the clamping means shown in Fig. 4 and the parts thereof are similarly numbered.

A carriage member or plate 25 is slidably disposed in each track bar. A shank 26 is rigidly connected with each carriage member 25 and extends transversely therefrom and is adapted to operate in the slot 14 in the outer side of the track member 12, 13. A clamping head 27 is rigidly connected with each shank 26. Each clamping head 27 has a normally vertical bore or passageway 28 to slidably and rotatively receive an upright post 29. Each clamping head is also somewhat resilient and is flanged on one side and has a slot 30 extending from the bore 28 to the exterior thereof. Also each clamping head has a thumb screw 31 threadedly engaged therewith and extending across the slot 30. When the clamp screw 31 is in a loosened condition the post 29 can easily be adjusted vertically and rotatively in the clamping head 25. When said screw 31 is tightened it will securely clamp and lock the post 29 in any fixed position desired.

The upright post 29 has an integral table supporting upper end portion or extension 32 which is positioned at right angles to said post 29. A tray or table 33 of any suitable shape and size is tiltably mounted upon the upper end portion 32 of the post 29 as by means of any suitable bearing brackets 34.

A quadrant 35 of substantially semi-circular shape is securedv to the bottom side of the table. 33 near the end of said table and extends downwardly from the table alongside of the post 29. Notches 36 are provided in the convex external edge portion of the quadrant 35. A manually operated spring pressed latch member 37 is disposed Within a housing 38 which is secured to the post 29 adjacent the toothed edge of the quadrant 35. The latch member 37 is normally held in engagement with the quadrant 35 by suitable spring means in housing 38 and will hold the table in any angular position into which it is adjusted. Said latch member 37 is easily retracted manually. The center of the quadrant 35 coincides with the axis of the table supporting portion of the post, that is with the member 32, and the table is angularly movable throughout an angle of substantially one hundred eighty degrees.

The track member 12, 13 shown in Fig. 8 is similar to the track member shown in Figs. 1 to 6 and the parts thereof are similarly numbered. However the track member 12, 13 shown in Fig. 8 is permanently attached, as by weld means 40 to a side rail 11 of a bed. The same carriage means shown in Figs. 1 to 6 may be used in the track member 1.2, 13 shown in Fig. 8 and in this instance the post 29 will be supported somewhat closer to the bed rail 11.

The track bar 15, 16, 17 shown in Fig. 9 is similar to the track bar shown in Fig. 7 but is rigidly attached, as by a weld 41 to the lower edge portion of a bed rail 11. The carriage member 25 will operate satisfactorily in any of the track members shown in Figs. lto4,7,8or9.

The bed rail 11 shown in Fig. is of modified form in that the vertical flange of said rail 11' is wider and has a longitudinal slot 42 extending longitudinally thereof. A post clamping head 43, similar to the previously described head 27 has a rigid shank 44 which is slidably disposed in the slot 42. A plate 45 is positioned inside of the bed rail 11' and is secured to the shank 44, as by screw means 46 to complete the assembly of the carriage. The shank 44 is preferably of rectangular shape and is long enough so that it will not turn in the slot 42 and will not have a tendency to bind but will permit the carriage to be moved lengthwise of the bed rail in the same manner as the previously described carriages. Preferably at least two screws 46 are used in the plate 45.

The table supporting means hereinbefore described and shown in Figs. 1 to 10 will support a bed table 33 in such a manner that the table can be positioned over a bed or alongside of a bed and can be adjusted vertically and longitudinally of the bed and can be set at any desired angle between the vertical and the horizontal. The table is supported entirely from the bed rail and has no legs or pedestal means to rest on the floor. This keeps the floor alongside of the bed clear of obstructions and facilitates the work of caring for an invalid in a bed. Also the table is supported in such a manner that it can not be tipped over inadvertently.

When the table is not to be used it can be moved to the head end of the bed, or to the foot end if desired, and oriented into a vertical position so that it will extend sidewise and will be out of the way, as indicated by dot and dash lines in Fig. 1. Also the table can be quickly removed from the carriage by lifting the post 29 out of the fitting 27 if it is desired to detach the table from the bed.

The foregoing description and accompanying drawings clearly disclose preferred embodiments of this invention but it will be understood that these disclosures are merely illustrative and that changes in the invention may be made within the scope and spirit of the following claim.

I claim:

1n adjustable platform supporting bed attachment means for use on a bed having an angle bar side rail, a relatively long hollow track bar having a longitudinally extending track slot in one side thereof; at least two clamp brackets of inverted L shape secured transversely of said track bar to the side of the track bar opposite the track slot; a hook shaped member on the upper end portion of each bracket positioned to hook over the edge portion of a top flange of an angle bar bed rail, said brackets securing said track bar to a bed rail lengthwise of the bed rail and in close proximity to the bed rail with the track slot outwardly directed; a bolt rigidly secured to the upright arm of each clamp bracket and extending downwardly therefrom; a clamp member through which each bolt extends, the clamp member having means positioned to receive and engage with the lower edge of an angle bar bed rail; a nut on each bolt below the clamp member; a carriage movably disposed in the track slot of said track bar; and an upright support carried by said carriage.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 178,747 Estman June 13, 1876 518,733 Cook Apr. 24, 1894 529,210 Storz et a1. Nov. 13, 1894 745,160 Cummings Nov. 24, 1903 1,050,395 Schleicher Jan. 14, 1913 1,079,487 Hasenzahl Nov. 25, 1913 1,208,979 Kahre Dec. 19, 1916 1,231,678 Walker July 3, 1917 1,256,498 Baker Feb. 12, 1918 1,329,395 Gamlin Feb. 3, 1920 1,543,454 Sparks June 23, 1925 1,543,455 Sparks June 23, 1925 1,558,154 Fitch Oct. 20, 1925 2,362,368 Gardella Nov. 7, 1944 2,451,733 Hochwarder Oct. 19, 1948 2,460,244 Strauss Jan. 25, 1949 2,483,920 McLean et al. Oct. 4, 1949 

